Free barbecue

By Frank Neill

Love Wainuiomata’s free community barbecue, originally scheduled to be held at Ngaturi Park on 29 January, had to be she promoted did not go through, Nicole told the “Wainuiomata News”.

Because Parliament did not pass legislation requiring business to allow IBD sufferers to use their bathrooms, Nicole began an initiative called the “I Can’t Wait Campaign”.

She approaches businesses around New Zealand asking them to join the campaign, and voluntarily allow IBD sufferers to use their bathrooms in an emergency.

When businesses agree to join, they put up a sign and allow people with an “I Can’t Wait” certificate to use their bathrooms.

That campaign “is what I am most proud of,” Nicole says, “and also advocating for raising awareness of IBD”.

Her campaign has been endorsed by several city councils throughout the country.

Nicole became a Youth Ambas- sador for Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand in 2018. Trevor Mallard, who was Hutt South MP at the time, presented her with the Youth Ambassador certificate. postponed because of the wet weather.

She currently works in two jobs, one at Joe’s Cook in Wainuiomata and the other at Motomart in Lower Hutt.

However this month she will leave to study nursing at Otago University.

More than 20,000 New Zealanders have IBD. In fact, New Zealand has the third highest rate of IBD in the world, and it is growing at over 5% per year.

IBD has profound physical, social and psychological impacts on those living with it, affecting their education, social relationships, work lives, and their ability to have a family.

IBD costs New Zealand an estimated $245 million in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

It will now be held on Waitangi Day, 6 February “Come join us for an afternoon full of positive vibes,” Love

Wainuiomata’s Co-ordinator, Anaru Ryall says. As well as the free sausage sizzle there will be fresh water, sack races, fun activity play, plenty of toys for young tamariki and even some fun rugby games. Ngaturi Park is located in Homedale Village, at the end of Ngaturi Grove – a small cul de sac that runs off Parenga Street.

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